Stay Cool

Here are my top 5 ways to stay cool in the stifling heat this summer:

1. Go to a movie theater. It's air conditioned (hopefully) and you are entertained for 2 hours (hopefully again). I'm looking forward to Inception, the new Leonardo DiCaprio movie opening July 16.

2. Swim at a public pool. The NYC Department of Parks & Recreation has opened outdoor pools all around the boroughs for you. I haven't gone yet but I plan to check out the one in Red Hook.

3. Go to the beach. New York magazine has made it easy for you with their ultimate beach finder in it's 2010 Summer Issue. They offer destinations an hour, 2 hours or 3 hours away.

4. Check out a water park. There are about eight water parks in New York to bring out the kid in you.

5. Eat an icy! The great thing about NYC is that there is always either an Italian ice cart, ice cream truck, frozen yogurt store or smoothie shop nearby. And many restaurants have put gourmet sorbets or ice creams on their dessert menu this time of year. It's a quick cool down and a yummy treat. I've had one of these about every day so far this summer :)

Movie Review: Grown Ups

I see a lot of movies and thought why not share my thoughts on them with you. Movie of the day: Grown Ups. The $13 price is a little hefty when you can wait to see it on DVD in a few months for less than half the price, but I've realized that a lot of times it's worth it to see a movie before you end up hearing everyone's opinions about it. And it gave me something to do. I actually enjoyed this movie more than I expected. I've noticed recently that most comedies are just so unrealistic that some of the bits that are supposed to be funny end up bugging me because I think "that wouldn't happen" - i.e. when Stu in The Hangover goes into the bathroom with a tiger to hand feed him a steak. Really? I know that the whole movie was basically like this and it was still funny, but what I liked about Grown Ups is that they didn't create unrealistic situations and just stuck to good old fashion comedic bantering and relate-able moments from the writer's/actor's own experiences.

The all-star cast included Adam Sandler, David Spade, Rob Schneider, Kevin James and Chris Rock, plus Selma Hayek, Maria Bello and Maya Rudolph as the less publicized female supporters. Each one hilarious in their own way and when put together have a great chemistry that worked for this movie. The premise is that the guy's are all "grown up" and their elementary school basketball coach dies so they all get together for the funeral followed by a weekend at the lake house they use to enjoy when they were younger. I felt a little nostalgic for my own childhood while watching this movie, especially now that I am "grown up" as well. The movie plays on the fact that nowadays kids don't understand the concept of turning off the TV to enjoy physical activities, and can be extremely spoiled. I thought this was a great premise and hope it hits home for parents and kids today. I recommend seeing it, or at least rent it. And then go outside and play... It's summertime!

The New Coney Island?

The other day I decided to take the 45 minute subway ride to Coney Island and check out the new Luna Park I keep seeing ads about. I have been to Coney Island many times because it's a short getaway to an ocean view, there's great people-watching and of course there's hot dogs! Although you do have to have an open mind when visiting because this is New York and not Cape Cod or the Caribbean. So the ocean is a murky brownish color, the sand is also brown/gray and the people are...well they're New Yorkers so you see quite a mix of cultures and styles. Then there's the rides. I wouldn't set foot on the rickety Cyclone roller coaster but I have chanced the Wonder Wheel and it was worth it.

Now, there's Luna Park, which is basically just more rides all smushed in a small area. There are some interesting ones there, such as the Brooklyn Flyer, which is about 100 foot high swings that spin around in a circle, or the Air Race which is inspired by aerial flying and spins around and upside down. But I'm bummed that two of my favorite activities are no longer there: the batting cages and mini-golf. Instead, there is just vacant space with signs up that say "For Lease." And where did all the arcade games go? Coney Island, you have some 'splaining to do.
One thing to look forward to though is the Mermaid Parade. This always draws an enormous crowd to the area and is, once again, quite a fun day of people-watching. It's happening again this Saturday, June 19 at 2pm. As it says on their site, "The Mermaid Parade celebrates the sand, the sea, the salt air and the beginning of summer, as well as the history and mythology of Coney Island, Coney Island pride, and artistic self-expression." It can be fun for kids but watch out for the more-than-occasional boobie siting. People take the mermaid image for real.

Toss or Sell

I live in a small apartment in Brooklyn and over the years I have acquired more and more stuff. So every year I have to figure out what I really need. From clothes to paperwork to furniture, it's not an easy task going through everything. Once I throw away what I really don't need - usually the things that are just collecting dust - I then figure out what is worth selling. Which then puts in question: Do I have a stoop sale or do I go the Craigslist route? I've tried the stoop sale a few times and it's ok for a few hours on a nice day but I've realized that I end up making small change from $30 to $100. Of course I'm usually selling tiny things like books for 50 cents or some costume jewelry, but I just can't seem to throw it away after having spent my money on it. But then there are the big items like a desk where I resort to online sales at Craigslist.com. In the past, Craigslist has been great. I've sold everything from a pair of roller skates to a bed frame to a coffee table. It takes some patience and you have to be willing to allow strangers in your home to pick up the items, but so far everything has run smoothly. And it's all cash! However, in the current economy it seems like people are really looking for a bargain and Craigslist has basically turned out to be just as useful as having a stoop sale. This past week I've tried to sell a desk and chair for $85. No bites. So I lower it to $75 and got three inquiries. The first one I had to keep calling back to try and arrange a time and then he decided he didn't want it. The second decided he wanted a different color. And the third is trying to get me to lower the price to $40 and only wants the desk. That's quite the bargain seeing that the chair would not sell for $35. I think not mister! I'm hoping after the next week I'll get my way and have room for a new baby crib (which I'm sure I'll also be trying to sell on Craigslist in a few years).

Sports And Marriage

The basketball season is almost over and although I am not a huge sports enthusiast, I am happy that the Celtics are in the finals. Not just because I am originally from Massachusetts, but because it makes my husband happy. It's funny to watch how excited a man can get over bad calls on fouls and three point shots. There tends to be the occasional outburst at the TV and a random fist pump when things go right. I have a short attention span for sports and tend to leave the room to do whatever (clean, make something to eat, check Facebook), but I do enjoy watching when I know the team. I tend to watch the games with a totally different perspective than my husband though. I will comment on the cuteness of the players, how they wear their uniforms, and say things like "I think he needs a towel." I do think it's important to get involved with the games so that we can spend time together. Because if it's not basketball, then there's baseball, and football. And now that the World Cup is starting, there will be soccer. And it's not like the games are on once a week, like a typical TV show that I would watch. There's always sports and there are many channels dedicated to them.

The thing I do hate about sports though are those ridiculous commentator shows, like "Around the Horn." Do all guys yell about sports? It just hurts my head to listen to them. I enjoy a good biography show about an athlete, but these commentary shows are just noise to me. Sometimes I think having cable is just a burden on our relationship, but we seem to be able to compromise - or just leave the room.

Vacation From Vacation

In celebration of many things (anniversary, graduation, birthdays), I went with my husband and his family to Bermuda over Memorial Day Weekend. This is the first vacation in the past 10 years that I've gone on and come back to not having a job. It was a strange feeling but a nice one. So basically, you could say that I'm still on vacation.

Here's a little about the trip...
When we arrived we hopped in a taxi that took us down many winding and narrow roads. They drive on the opposite side there so you feel like you're going to crash into a coral wall at any moment. But we arrived safely at the beautiful Fairmont Southampton and got an amazing deal because my uncle-in-law works for Fairmont. It's good to know the right people.

The weather was unpredictable so we had to play it by ear. One minute we'd be at the beach in the hot sun and then all of a sudden a downpour. Then an hour later the sun would come back out. Luckily everything is pretty close together so if you were at the beach you can just hop in a trolley and go back up to the hotel. We had free access to the spa which had an indoor pool that was above my expectations. It had a beautiful view of the ocean and outdoor hot tubs (when they were open anyway... One day some kid dumped bubbles in the hot tub so it was out of use!) One evening, the family chartered a sailboat for a sunset cruise that was delightful. Another night we had cocktails and hors d'oeuvres at The Waterlot restaurant outside on the dock, which was followed by an amazing four-course dinner. There was constantly food all around me, which actually caused some jokes because I was eating so much! Breakfast was included everyday on the Gold Level floor as well as snacks and desserts. I think I gained 5 lbs after this trip!
Bermuda is a gorgeous place and pleasantly only a 2 hour flight from NY. The beaches offer white and pink sand complemented by the bright blue ocean. I had an amazing time and can't wait to go back.